Presente de pasado inmediato

As discussed in Present simple uses, Spanish uses the present simple extensively to talk about events happening around the time of speaking. One such use is the so-called presente de pasado inmediato, which is used when referring to events that have taken place very shortly before the moment of speaking or communicating the message.

"Se ha llamado PRESENTE DE SUCESOS RECIENTES o DE PASADO INMEDIATO al que, como su nombre indica, se usa para expresar hechos acaecidos en cierto punto del pasado cercano al momento del habla, así como para hacer referencia al resultado de estos".¹

English doesn't usually use the present in this way (except in sporting commentary and news headlines), but there are exceptions, e.g. 'my son tells me you are a lawyer', where 'tells'='has told'. 

When it is a phone call or written communication, the present tense is preferred when the event has happened/is going to happen very shortly before the person receives the message. This can sound strange to English speakers, who will want to use the continuous or the present perfect. 

-Te traigo flores — I've brought you flowers (Indicating culmination of 'bringing'; simultaneously handing over the flowers; 'te he traído flores' would be less immediate and time may have past since the person has brought them; in much of Latin America they might say 'te traje flores')

 

-Vengo andando desde Almería — I've come from Almeria on foot (The moment of arrival coincides with the moment of speaking; 'he venido' is also possible but less immediate)

 

-Llegas tarde otra vez — You're late again! (Merging with moment of speaking)

 

-Te adjunto el archivo que me pediste — I've attached the file you asked for (Recipient's perspective upon reading the email is that of immediate past coinciding with receiving the attachment)

 

-Le abonamos en su cuenta 500 euros — We have transferred 500 euros to your account [When writing the message, the money may not yet have been transferred; but upon receiving the message, the money will have already been transferred]

 

-En este paquete te mando tus libros — In this package, I'm sending you your books (From the recipient's perspective it is immediate past; upon reading the message he receives the books)

 

-Te escribo para pedirte perdón — I'm writing to ask for your forgiveness (Immediate past from the perspective of the recipient)

 

-El paro sube en un 1% en un mes — Unemployment has risen by 1% in a month (Reporting a change that has just reached 1%; still considered present; 'ha subido' would be more usual when speaking)

As mentioned in presente progresivo , English rarely uses the present simple for events happening around the time of speaking. Events from the past are in the past, even if it was one second ago; events in the future are in the future, even if it is one second from now. The present continuous is used for most temporary things we consider to be taking place in the present.